It’s not only a political keyword these days. When the U.S WNT takes on Norway this Wednesday in the quaint Fredrikstad Stadium, it’ll continue its own rapid reinvention. A new head coach, a new mix of players, and a willingness to adapt one’s individual game for the benefit of the program. Sure, this is still an Abby Wambach team that threatens to score off every set piece and a Shannon Boxx team that’s fearsome down the middle, but its biggest advantage going into Beijing is the handful of young players that are capable of providing that unexpected burst of speed or defense-splitting change of direction.

“We talked about ‘change’ since I started and they seemed to embrace that word,” head coach Pia Sundhage said last week. “It has not been too much of a change, and it hasn’t been too little either. I think we’ve balanced that in a nice way from the way they played last year and how they adapted to a new coach, and I’m impressed with that in only seven months. I think the weakness is that we didn’t have a lot of time. We could have more in order to prepare for the Olympics. However, the fact that we have not had that much time, this team has been very precise with every single minute, every single practice. I’m very happy about that. There are players with a lot of experience and players with youth experience and I think that mix is good. Weakness? Well, could you perform, could you play, could you have fun when it really matters? Because if you look at the games today, the games we are playing, they have smiles, they’re happy. If all of us could have the same feeling going into the Olympics, we don’t know. We’ll see.”

The player that perhaps best embodies this revamped attitude is Angela Hucles. She’s going into her second Olympic Games and was by no means a slouch earlier in her career. Recently, however, the experienced midfielder and all-time leading scorer at the University of Virginia found a way to take her game to a level we’ve never seen before.

Coach Sundhage givin’ a wahoo to the Wahoo:

“Angela Hucles is amazing. It’s about change and it’s about changing speed. She has all the tools. She’s fit, she has great technique, she can strike that ball. Tactically, she’s good. It’s about changing and being unpredictable. We’ve shown a video, we talked to her and all of the sudden, she got it. She’s coming of the bench and has done great stuff. She’s started and done great stuff, as well. She can change her speed and change directions. She will not only play many minutes at the Olympics, she will score many goals as well. I look at her and I just smile because she changed her style a little bit. She had it, she Angela Hucles made me very happy lately. She’s good.” had the ability and she pretty much found it and coached herself.

44 years is a long time to wait for a trophy. But it ended with a split second of hesitation in the German defence. That's all Fernando Torres needed to score the winner. Spain, and Liverpool, went mad. Take it to the next level.

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The U.S. MNT successfully started their journey toward South Africa on Sunday. After dismantling Barbados 8-0 in the first leg, the U.S. was simply looking to close up shop on the away leg. This resulted in a much closer score line (1-0 to the States), but on the strength of their first match the U.S. is now moving on to the semifinal round of qualifying.

Coach Bradley rested a number of guys, including Gooch and ‘Los, which meant many of the younger players got their moment in the sun - literally as the game was played in the baking heat of Bridgetown. The temp didn't seem to faze Freddy though, as he turned provider for the game's only goal.

The team will try to take the next step toward their goal of World Cup qualification when they lock horns with Guatemala on August 20.

9-0 is next level.

Turkey are in the semifinals. In their four games so far, they've had the lead for about two minutes in total.

It doesn't matter how long you're behind so long as you finish ahead.

Better late than out.

The Torres Song, in Spanish, is now available here to download free to your phone as a ringtone. ¡Venga chicos!

All the pre-game talk was of Holland putting out a weakened side against Romania. It was a different side, to be sure. And it won 2-0. No conspiracies, no compromises, no concessions. Three games, three wins. Twenty-three players, one team.

Forget about what happened the last time the US WNT met up with Brazil. Yesterday, on the second match day for Group B in the Peace Queen Cup, both teams used different lineups and different approaches to the game. It was scrappy and hard-fought, but this time the Americans held on to a late first-half goal for an important win. Now we're sitting pretty with six points, only needing a win or a tie against Italy on June 19th to advance to the championship game.

One major difference was the play of Angela Hucles. Angela earned Sierra Mist Woman of the Match honors when she came on in the 13th minute to replace center midfielder Carli Lloyd, who broke her nose while going up for a header. Coach Pia Sundhage said it was the best she's ever seen Angela play. To us, it sounds like a lot of her success can be attributed to the right attitude.

"I just wanted to go in there and bring energy when I came off the bench," said Hucles. "Just try to keep possession and get a hold of the game. Brazil is obviously a great team, but we have to realize that we are also a great team and go out there with confidence."

Never backing down is next level.

With 75 minutes gone, Turkey were 0-2 down, dead and buried. Then Arda Turan cracks in a goal. A lifeline.
87 minutes, Nihat Kahveci scores. And while everyone else was waiting for penalties, he scored again.

Cancel the wake. Book the party.

The 2008 Peace Queen Cup kicks-off for the US WNT this Sunday against Australia, which means that the Americans are almost there. "There," of course, meaning two things. Geographically speaking, next week's tournament is being held in Seoul, South Korea, which happens to be only some 230 miles southeast of Beijing, where all the festivities will go down come August.

In terms of performance, "there" is also the level of intensity and quality of play the US WNT will need in order to go for gold. Games set against Australia, Brazil and Italy will provide the challenge. Australia is serious competition, as two thrilling friendlies proved earlier this spring. Brazil is the ultimate measuring stick in women's soccer right now, and you better believe we'll be out for a little bit of redemption. The Italian squad that we saw at the Algarve Cup can turn any game into a battle. We're focused and ready, and haven't forgotten to have some fun along the way (The Price is Right? Runway Modelling?).

Good thing the reorganization of the US WNT program has proven a success. The core of Tarp, Boxxy, Hope and Abby has been training hard alongside some fresh, new faces. Tash, especially, will be counted on for offensive production. She's been riding a serious Hawaiian-sized goal-scoring wave with nine goals in the last nine games. Could be the breakout summer she's been working so hard for.

Unfortunately, Cat won't be on the field because of injury, but you can bet she'll be supporting her teammates from her home in Alabama. Best of luck with the surgery, Cat, and get well soon!

The Peace Queen Cup won't be televised in the States, so stay up with all the action online at USsoccer.com.

So what do you do when the manager leaves you on the bench? Throw your toys out of the cradle or throw yourself into the challenge of showing the world that you're still number one?

Jens Lehmann knows the answer, and he knows how to make his point on the training ground - with or without the ball in his hands.

Because always believing in yourself is next level.

No, we're not talking birthday candles. Against Argentina last Sunday, at the ripe old age of 26, Landon Donovan sprinted to his 100th cap for the US MNT. Along the way to becoming the fourth-youngest player in world soccer history to reach the century mark, Landon's scored more goals (35) than anyone else in men's national team history. And, he's helped carry American soccer, internationally and domestically, to a place it's never been before.

From Gold Cups to World Cups, border battles to friendlies, Landon's served as an ambassador of the game, a captain for our senior team and, as we saw against Argentina, a difference maker when he's on the pitch. Unlike most players with 100 international appearances, we can celebrate his achievements with the knowledge that, barring the exceptional, he'll be around for 2010 and beyond.

Congrats Landon. Here's to 200!

To know exactly how good you are, you have to test yourself against the best. And that's just what the U.S. MNT is doing this Sunday when they take on the world's number one ranked team, Argentina.

The match kicks off at Giants Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET, and will be the final game of an extremely difficult three game series.

Against England and Spain, the U.S. faced two of the most potent offenses in the world. And, although they lost, the defensive play of Bocanegra and Onyewu has been solid - keeping both Wayne Rooney and Fernando Torres off the score sheet.

But against Argentina, the US backline will have to be flawless. And, Michael Bradley will have to be relentless in the midfield, disrupting the flow of play for the Argentineans.

If we can keep our discipline on defense, then we'll be looking to the inspired play of Freddy Adu to add that audacious spark going forward. Adu looked confident and capable against the Spanish on Wednesday, and we'll need him to link up with Dempsey, Beasley, EJ and Landon (if he's healthy) in the attacking third.

Taking on three of soccer's best was never going to be an easy task, but it's a challenge that can only make us stronger in the long run. When all is said and done, these are the types of friendlies we need to be playing; these are the matches that will prepare us for 2010.

Taking on the world's best is Next Level.

When the MNT takes the field on Wednesday night against Spain, the numbers will be stacked heavily against them. Spain is currently the number four team in the world. In the two previous meetings between the nations, Spain has won both by a combined score of 5 - 1.

And, one of the most important numbers of all is ten. That's the number Landon Donovan would be wearing if he was on the field; however, the U.S.'s all-time leading scorer will not be suiting up due to a tight groin. Joining him on the list of injured is Jonathan Specter, who is out for three to six months with a hip injury.

With Specter and Donovan stuck on the sidelines, the guys will have to dig deep to find a way to break the Spanish down. But the door is wide open for any of our young guns to step in and assert some authority in the final third. After all, when you look at it, that's what this series of games is all about - providing our players invaluable experience by taking on the world's best.

Win, lose or draw, a game of this magnitude will help galvanize the U.S. squad before they face the number one team in the world, Argentina.

After two tough matches against England and Spain, the guys will need all the support they can get when they take on the Argentineans at Giant Stadium on Sunday, June 8. So if you're able to get your hands on a ticket, come out early to the Nike Snake Pit , located at Lot 18, and get your pre-game on with loads of likeminded supporters.

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